Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres

The Dodgers won their first four games against the Padres in 2018, but have now lost three of the five subsequent contests. Los Angeles has scored 53 runs across the nine games while San Diego has managed 29 tallies.

Los Angeles enters this game following a 4-3 loss to the crosstown Angels on Sunday Night Baseball. The Dodgers have won four of their last six road games. San Diego heads home after going 2-4 on a six-game road trip. Dating back to June 5, the Padres have lost five of their last seven road games.

Yasiel Puig hit his 11th home run of the year on Sunday, but the Dodgers lost a game in which Puig homered for the first time since May 15. Los Angeles has gone 8-3 on the year when Puig hits at least one home run -- over the course of his career Puig's teams are 72-20 (.783), which is tied for the fourth-best mark since he entered the league in 2013 (minimum 75 games with home run since 2013).

Wil Myers went 1-for-10 in his first three games back from the disabled list. Since June 24, Myers has slashed .326/.404/.761. He is one of nine players with a .300+/.400+/.700+ slash line over that span, and among those nine players, his slugging percentage trails only Jesus Aguilar, Alex Bregman and Aaron Hicks (minimum 40 PA in span).

Clayton Kershaw has failed to go seven innings in six consecutive starts -- the only longer streak of his career spanned his first 11 starts in the majors, lasting from May 25 to August 1, 2008.

Luis Perdomo has posted an 8.31 ERA in five career starts against the Dodgers, allowing eight home runs. Perdomo has only allowed one home run in five starts in 2018, letting up Max Muncy's first home run of the year on April 18.

SAN DIEGO -- For the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday night's series finale against the Padres at Petco Park is a golden opportunity to claim a third win in the four-game series.

And the Dodgers have to be feeling pretty good about their chances.

They will send right-hander Ross Stripling (7-2, 2.22 ERA) to the mound. He has beaten the Padres once this season.

The Padres counter with right-hander Tyson Ross (6-7, 4.41), which could be an issue.

At the end of June, Ross was 5-5 with a 3.32 ERA over his first 16 starts of the season. But over his last two starts, Ross has been pounded to the point of concern.

He has given up 15 runs on 14 hits and five walks with just two strikeouts in seven innings. In his most recent start at Chase Field in Arizona, Ross gave up eight runs and seven hits in two innings.

He has given up six home runs in his last three starts after yielding eight in his first 15.

Given Ross's medical history -- the 6-foot-6, 31-year-old had a 7.71 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) with the Texas Rangers last season after returning from thoracic outlet surgery -- there is concern about his health. In fact, he signed with the Padres last winter as a minor league free agent.

There were no issues for the first three months of the season as Ross thrived. And the pitcher says he still feels good.

However, his ERA has jumped more than a run over the span of seven innings. And he failed to strike out a hitter over five innings July 1 against Pittsburgh after having 90 strikeouts in his first 95 innings.

If Ross continues to struggle, it could ruin some other possible plans. Two weeks ago, several teams appeared to be interested in the slider specialist as a trading deadline acquisition.

Ross will try to right the ship against the Dodgers, who he will be facing for the first time this season. Overall, Ross has an 0-7 record against the Dodgers with a 3.49 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a .265 opponents' batting average in 11 games (nine starts).

But Ross has pitched better at Petco Park than elsewhere. He has a 3.07 career at Petco Park with a 1.15 WHIP and a .262 opponents' batting average.

Stripling would have the second-best ERA in the National League if he had enough innings to qualify. In 24 games (13 starts), Stripling has allowed 23 runs (22 earned) on 83 hits and 13 walks with 103 strikeouts in 89 1/3 innings. He has a 1.07 WHIP and a .242 opponents' batting average.

Stripling is 2-3 lifetime in nine appearances (three starts) against the Padres with a 3.04 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.